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Project overview

What is Varsity Station Village?

Artist's impression of train station
and bus interchange

Varsity Station Village, located at Varsity Lakes on the Gold Coast, will be a first for Queensland. This project will combine the delivery of the first new train station under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2006-2026, with government-lead land development that complies with transit oriented development principles.

The Varsity Station Village project will transform light industrial land into a modern and valuable community space, with a focus on accessible transport. It will comprise a new train station (Varsity Lakes), bus interchange, retail shops, commercial offices, new housing, and parks and green spaces.

The Queensland Government has set aside A$23.7 million to kickstart this project. (The powerlines along Scottsdale Drive will be placed underground using part of this allocated funding.)

Varsity Lakes train station is part of the Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension project. It is being delivered by QR (Queensland Rail) as part of the government's South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2007-2026.

Varsity Station Village will be a transit oriented community, the first in Queensland to combine the delivery of a new train station with government-lead land development.

Why is Varsity Station Village so important to the Gold Coast?

The Gold Coast is predicted to be one of the fastest growing regions in Queensland. In fact, it is predicted that the population will grow by 42% to 4 million by 2026. Quality public transport links are therefore needed to connect people and places around the Gold Coast and across south east Queensland.

The South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program, released by the Queensland Government in 2005, confirmed the need to extend the Gold Coast line further from Robina to Coolangatta. The Robina to Varsity Lakes project is the first section of the extension of the rail line to Coolangatta.

When will it be finished?

Varsity Lakes train station is now planned to open in late 2009. A process for selling the land for Varsity Station Village will begin in 2010.

What was the alternative?

The alternative option to Varsity Station Village would have been industrial activities, possibly manufacturing and warehousing, surrounding the station. These activities would not have added to the lifestyle of Gold Coast residents like Varsity Station Village will.

What has happened so far?

In 2004-05, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (then Queensland Transport) explored the opportunity of creating a transit oriented community around the proposed Varsity Lakes train station.
In 2006, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (then Queensland Transport) bought 8.5 hectares of land surrounding the proposed Varsity Lakes train station and started planning for a high quality urban village.
In July 2007, funding of A$23.7 million was announced to kickstart the Varsity Station Village project.
The project team began the planning and design process in late 2007, and worked closely with the Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension project, Gold Coast City Council, Energex, and other state government agencies. Project planning follows transit oriented development principles; these are planning guidelines outlined in the South East Queensland Regional Plan.
The draft Master Plan was released for community consultation in November 2008.
The final Master Plan was published in July 2009.

The project has won an Award for Excellence at the 2008 Planning Institute of Australia (Queensland) awards. The prize was awarded in the Transport Planning category, stating that;

"The proposal represents a major step forward in demonstrating commitment to public transport, walking and cycling integrated with high quality places. The delivery of the project will represent an important milestone in land use and transport integration and outcomes sought under the SEQ Regional Plan. The project demonstrates initiative by Queensland Transport to ensure an important station site was not encumbered by an industrial estate or vast commuter carpark. The urban design work and station integration considerations are well executed and represent a practical response to a challenging site."